Compare towns
Bristol vs Northbridge vs Burlington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bristol has the most affordable homes ($278k median).
Northbridge has the oldest population (median age 43.8).
Burlington has the most people working from home (25%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Bristol | Northbridge | Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 61,462Highest |
16,458 |
9,680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 37.9±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
39.9±2.4 about the U.S. average |
| Northbridge and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
25.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Burlington and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±1.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Northbridge and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Burlington and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,076±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$165,120±$13kHighest 105% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $277,800±$8kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$418,700±$21k 26% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,338±$45 5% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,427±$671Highest about the U.S. average |
| Burlington and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,449 75% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$7,464Highest 139% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.1%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bristol and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
25%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #115 of 149 in CT | #226 of 282 in MA | #58 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bristol School District | Northbridge | Regional School District 10 |
| High school in town | Bristol Central High School | Northbridge High | Lewis S. Mills High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
10.8Lowest |
11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.